BRENT HEROES

Click through the list below to find out about the achievements of these heroes from the Black community with a connection to Brent.

Namron Yarrum

Namron Yarrum (born Norman Murray) joined the Willesden Jazz Ballet in 1961, and became a student of renowned dancer and teacher, Dame Marie Rambert. He went on to become a founding member of The London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Namron continues to teach and perform.

Norma Best

In 1944, Britain appealed to her colonies for assistance and one of the smallest was British Honduras (now Belize) responded. Norma Best (nee Leacock) was among those who volunteered. She was 20 years old, at the time. With five other Auxiliary Territorial Service recruits, she sailed for Jamaica, where they received initial training. Then they were off to New Orleans, and after receiving their uniforms, they travelled to New York before sailing on the Queen Mary to Britain. After military training at Guilford, Surrey, she wanted to become a driver, as her father was during the First World War. She did administrative work, served in Preston, and was then posted to Derby. In 1946, Norma took the opportunity of studying to be a Primary School teacher at Durham University. Just after qualifying in 1947, she was told that she had to return to British Honduras, in spite of the fact that a job had been offered to her at a school in Cambridge. Norma Returned to the UK in the 1950s and was employed as a teacher. In the 1970s, she became the Head teacher of Bridge Infant School, a Primary School in the London Borough of Brent, the first Black person in the borough to hold such a position.

Norman Mullings MBE

Norman Mullings has been a pillar of the West London community since his arrival in Britain, from Jamaica in 1958, aged 18.

He is an integral part of the Harlesden Methodist Church and has worked within a number of public service roles, based in his community. He was a senior circuit stewards for many years and has also served as a school governor, and as sitting magistrate. He has consistently vocalised his insistence for equality.

Norman was involved in establishing the International Friendship Council and was a founding member of The Learie Constantine West Indian Association. Alongside other members of the Harlesden Methodist Church, he also campaigned against Apartheid in South Africa, in the 1980s.